Many people accuse us Christians (or pastors/evangelists, specifically) of either ONE or two things:

A). Watering DOWN the gospel

B). Being overbearing with the gospel

And neither of these two scenarios are very good. Because in BOTH cases, the Lord’s people (after reading/listening to one of a pastor’s “watered-down” or “overbearing” gospel sermons/messages) are DEPRIVED of the Lord’s TRUE message that they need to hear and thus, there’s NO change of heart and NO true repentance in their lives! 

But again, what’s worse? Feeling as though you’re “MORE THAN good enough” for the Lord, only to come find out on Judgement Day that you’re NOT? Or to feel as though you’re “NOT good ENOUGH” for the Lord, and thus, give up TRYING and then ALSO end up on the bad side of Jesus on Judgement Day, cause you just gave up trying a LONG time ago?

Well, in either case, the BEST approach to preaching is somewhere in the middle. Firm, yet gentle. Firm enough where the “congregation” or “assembly” gets the message, yet, gentle enough where they confidently feel as though they CAN overcome any “sin” or “shortcomings” in their lives in the name of Jesus and that they CAN fully repent of all their sins in the name of Jesus! 

Also as well: There’s a common misconception that ONLY a pastor is qualified to teach the Written Word of God. But that’s NOT the case!

2 Peter 1: 20-21 states: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost”

2 Corinthians 3:6 says: “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life”

2 Corinthians 6:4 proclaims: “But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses”

ANY Christian who’s moved by the Holy Ghost is more than qualified to “teach” the Written Word of God (the bible) whenever the Holy Spirit drives them to. However, that being said, many Christians feel ill-equipped to “teach” the bible and would much rather leave it up to the hands of a “pastor/evangelist”. However……AS their biblical knowledge INCREASES over time, the Holy Spirit will no doubt start using EVERY Christian to preach his Word, NOT JUST pastors & evangelists!

However, that being said, there’s SEVERAL things that we Christians (and/or pastors/evangelists) have to look out for! And that’s THIS: IF and WHEN you start preaching the Written Word of God to others, you best make sure that: A) What you’re preaching is actually biblical and not just based on thoughts/feelings/conjecture and also that B) You actually PRACTICE what you preach!

So, for example, if you preach about the importance of having “patience” in one’s life (as per biblical standards), do YOU constantly lose your OWN patience with people or in general? And if you preach about how others should be more than willing to help the needy, do you YOURSELF help the needy? What about drinking? Do YOU preach that others shouldn’t drink at all, then kick back and relax and drink several beers during the football game with your friends (if a man) or go out for a pitcher of half-priced margaritas with the ladies (if a woman)?

You might not know or realize this but your “thoughts” & “behavior” are ALWAYS on display if you’re a Christian — ESPECIALLY if you’re a pastor/evangelist! People are watching you…….both Christian AND non-Christian people, ALIKE! That’s WHY you want to make 100% sure that what you’re preaching is NOT ONLY 100% biblical, through and through and NOT watered-down in any way but ALSO is what you’re practicing at home behind closed doors as well. 

Because truth be told, people can usually pick up on insincerity – someone living a “double life”. In fact, of all the “disgraced mega pastors/evangelists” lately, some of their “flock” said they weren’t surprised at all of the allegations. Because deep, deep down inside, those very few KNEW, somehow. Their gut REFUSED to let them rest! Plus some of them, after finding out about the unprofessional conduct of their pastor/church leaders, have likely fallen away from the faith & stopped attending church. Why? Because they weren’t truly being fed the Word of God, just like they weren’t being truly lead by example!

But again, this does NOT just apply to pastors/evangelists, this applies to ALL of us as Christians!

Please remember what JESUS said in Matthew 5: 13-16: “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven“

Translation? What does being the “salt of the Earth” MEAN? It means that we are to PRESERVE God’s Written Word, The Bible/The Gospel the way that salt preserves meat! And what does it mean to be the “light of the world?” It means that in a global world where people are CONSTANTLY chasing after “darkness”/”secularism”/”popular culture”, that we OURSELVES are INSTEAD supposed to be chasing after RIGHTEOUSNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!

So let me put this in perspective a bit. Today’s global culture is all about Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Hollywood, Music, Movies, Etc. However, a person can use those things for GOOD or for EVIL. Sadly, most people use those things for EVIL or VANITY or BOTH! However, it’s possible for a CHRISTIAN to use those platforms for GOOD; for the sake of Christ’s Kingdom!

Though there is much “Jesus-mocking” all over the place, Christians can use that as an opportunity to preach the gospel in its unadulterated form! For example, someone mocks Christ on Twitter, a Christian can come along and preach the gospel to the mocker on Twitter and lovingly show them how they are wrong. Same thing with Youtube, etc.

[[However, that being said, there is now some Christian music that’s gone over to mainstream (I thought we were supposed to be “set apart”?) and not sure if Jesus is too pleased with people that try to put a “Christian spin” on modern “trends”. As for Hollywood, I know some Christians are now trying to “mix” with Hollywood and make Christian movies out there but for me, the jury’s still out on that one! I don’t know, to me, that’s kind’ve like trying to set up a Southern Baptist convention in the middle of the “gay San Francisco Castro district” or something]].

I will no doubt have to admit that even I myself (a preacher/teacher of God’s Written Word, the Bible) have sometimes fallen short of the mark, here. Upon closer examining of my own spiritual walk with Christ, I had noticed some minor “hypocrisy” that I hadn’t picked up on before (before others — both Christian and non-Christian alike) had pointed them out to me. And Jesus had no doubt utilized those people to get His point(s) across to me. And not sure if this’ll help anyone out there or not but HERE are the 7 type(s) of hypocrisy that were pointed out to me:

1). There’s been some cases where I came across as “holier than thou” or “too judgmental”

2). There’s been cases where I came across as “too soft” or “not being firm enough in my biblical declarations of Jesus/the gospel”

3). There’s been occasional times in my life where I unintentionally (for short periods of time) held “grudges” against certain individuals in my life, in spite of preaching the importance of FORGIVENESS!

4). There’s been some cases where I preached against “gossip”, yet, found myself being “extremely persuaded” to participate in it at work, etc. Especially when a coworker would grab my arm and ask: “Don’t you think so and so is this way or that way? Don’t you think so?” and wouldn’t leave me alone until they got some sort of half-hearted response outta me. 

5). I watched (and liked) the TV Show called “Dark Matter”, even in spite of having had “spiritually denounced” the concepts of A.I. (Artificial Intelligence!)

6). Though I “denounce” Christmas as an “unbiblical holiday” brought about by “Pagan traditions”, I find myself unwittingly “caving in” to it every year just to “keep the peace” within my family (who DON’T yet fully realize or CARE that Christmas is “not biblical!”)

7). There were times where I found myself “arguing” with fellow Christians over what is biblical doctrine and what is not, not fully realizing that we ALL mature IN Christ at DIFFERENT RATES and at DIFFERENT TIMES! For NO two people are fully matured in Christ at the same exact time! 

8). I had previously stated in a previous post/sermon about how Jesus had FULLY spiritually delivered me from soda pop/soft drink addiction awhile back, only to most recently in the last 12 months or so get “partially re-addicted to them”.

[March 27, 2018 UPDATE: I am now proud to say that I have ONCE AGAIN knocked myself away from partial soda pop re-addiction to NO ADDICTION! PRAISE JESUS! And THIS time, I pray I stick WITH it!] 

However, ever since ALL these “revelations” about some of my preaching not fully matching up with my true-life “actions”, I’m now more determined than EVER to UNDO the 8 “Hypocrisies” that were found in me/this Yeshua777 ministry! So PLEASE PRAY FOR ME at this time that I will be able to CONTINUE to UNDO the 8 “Hyprocrisies” that were most recently found in me/this ministry! Because I want and need to be a STRONG leader of righteousness at this time! 

Also as well: NOW is the time to CRITICALLY examine our spiritual walk with Christ! We’re living in the Times of the End so believe me folks, this is NO TIME to be playing around with your eternal salvation! (Especially when there’s a very good chance the U.S. may soon go to war with North Korea/foreign nations! Cause WHO KNOWS what could happen in the U.S. or the world tomorrow!)

That’s why we MUST critically examine our spiritual walk with Christ and we MUST be spiritually prepared, NO MATTER WHAT!!!! So I ask you THIS: How is YOUR spiritual walk in Christ? IF you were to die today and suddenly find yourself in the Lord’s heavenly courtroom, would the Devil have ANY sort of “hypocrisy charges” he could bring against you? If so, what are they and what do YOU plan to do now to UNDO them, in the name of Jesus? Go about undoing them NOW in the name of Jesus, for tomorrow’s not guaranteed, folks! Time is of the essence!

The problem with many of today’s Christians is that they’re starting to get worn out, exhausted, and LAZY in their faith/spiritual walk with Jesus. As a matter of fact, Francis Cahn examines this very “hypocrital” attitude in the video down below:

 

Did the results surprise any of you at all? They shouldn’t! The last 2/3 of the video is what really got me, though. How AWFUL that “teacher of the gospel” must’ve felt when he realized that his total “hypocrisy” had cost him a SOUL! A soul that was likely not fully saved in the name of Jesus at the time of death! (Though I pray & hope that Jesus had a little mercy upon that soul as that soul was DESPERATELY searching for the answer of Jesus, just prior to death!) 

So I end with and ask EVERY Christian out there THIS one last question: Are YOU what YOU preach? If not, it’s not too late to turn things around, in the name of Jesus! For HE is the over-comer of ALL! Pretty encouraging, isn’t it? 🙂 For there is NO power in the UNIVERSE that’s greater than HIS heavenly, divine power!

Jesus is most certainly NOT gonna scratch his head in confusion over how to help each and every one of us overcome our sins/spiritual hypocrisies! And any Christian out there who claims they’ve never even ONCE had/experienced a spiritual hypocrisy? Come on, now! We ALL have from time to time! Romans 3:23 says that we are ALL sinners, and that we ALL fall short of the glory of God! But the good news is that Jesus was crucified for our sins SO THAT if we SEEK him and call out to him in prayer and REPENT of our sins (that means, to give up and stop doing them), he is just to forgive us of all our sins!

I hope this message has blessed you & encouraged you, in the name of the Lord! Have a Happy Passover & Feast of Unleavened Bread 2018! I love you all! 😉